Small portable recorder to use with MixPre (original)

Patryk_Rebisz

Patryk_Rebisz

Veteran
My usual one-man-can't-afford-soundman scenario involves feeding Rode NTG2 into MixPre (original) which feeds the signal to Zoom H4 recorder and through tapeout of MixPre and -10db attanuator to Canon 7D MII.

MixPre is very good, Zoom H4 gives me issues (corrupted files from time to time) so i'm thinking of upgrading to either small recorder with quality pream build-in that can send quality reference to camera (is there such a thing?) or another recorder to accept MixPre signal.

Any suggestions?
 
I've never liked Zoom's handheld recorders, and I'm not a fan of handheld recorders for this kind of work anyway. They have their uses, but not for bag work with a mixer.

There are good lower-cost offerings from Tascam and Fostex that are bag-friendly. Plus, for such a short cable run (assuming the recorder is in a bag with or is othewise located right next to the mixer), the MixPre's Tape Out can feed 1/4" ins on these little recorders and leave the XLR outputs free to feed the camera or to feed a wireless camera hop to the camera for reference.
 
If I didn't have a preamp and needed a small recorder I would also take a look at the above Foster recorder. Recently it has been discounted.

I never heard about the H4n corrupting files. Not the SD card or a lemon?
 
Both Fostex DC-R302 and Fostex FR-2 LE look very interesting. Does Fostex FR-2 LE can control phantom power for each XLR input (if i was to phantom XLR boom but not wireless)?
 
Patryk_Rebisz said:
Does Fostex FR-2 LE can control phantom power for each XLR input (if i was to phantom XLR boom but not wireless)?
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No, it's global (all on or all off). While the FR2-LE's pre-amps aren't terrible, they aren't close to what your MixPre offers. I would use both devices together.

And, honestly, if you're looking at anything like the FR2-LE or Tascam DR-60D or any other lower-cost, 2-track recorder... your MixPre is the best thing you can feed any one of them.
 
If it's just two tracks then something like a Tascam DR-60D or DR-70D. Both are great machines and putting the MixPre in front of either of them will work well. Both those recorders can be mounted under your DSLR camera as well. If you wanted to go crazy, you could sell off the MixPre and get the MixPreD and stack everything. MixPre D has an output specifically for DSLR cameras, so you can feed both the recorder and camera from it. I have a pre-production model that isn't up to full spec and it works well.
 
Yeah...The MixPre is the key element here.

I have both the Tascam DR-60 and the DR-70 and the shape of the DR-70 is FAR more appropriate for an audio bag....or just about ANYTHING really. The big square DR-60 is really not a "bag" device.

The Fostex looks really nice. I have had great results with their mid-to-high priced stuff. And discounted to $499 like it is right now probably makes up for a few of it's design shortcomings - like not displaying battery life or file names on its front panel.

Don't know what amount of money you want to spend - but for the under $400-$500 devices, I'm still looking at the DR-70D as the one.
 
With Zoom h4 i had to feed the recorder through 1/4 inch as XLR input would be too hot for the recorder. Do i have to deal with such stuff with any of the above mentioned recorders? Or do i just plug short XLRs from MixPre to any of the recorders above and record away?
 
Sounds like all you are looking for is the recorder. I have a Mix-pre and I pair it with a Tascam DR 40D. I like the interface on the DR 40D because the gain is set via a rocker switch with digital readout, and it has a Hold button. So once you have matched the level on the recorder with the tone generator from the Mix-pre the setting on the recorder is secure and you don't have to worry that the level may get bumped or changed in you bag. Then just hit record and do all your gain control from the Mix-pre. I also have a Tascam DR 60D and a DR 70D, I mostly use the DR 70D because of the four channels and a better interface to the camera. But there is no contest with the Mix-pre as it has better pre-amps, better meters, and better limiters. So for critical recordings and when I would need to "ride the gain" the Mix-pre wins the day. On another note I ended up selling my NTG 2 as it wasn't sensitive enough and and even with the Mix-pre I had to push the gain too close to the max. I bought the AT 875R.
 
I have to suggest the Sound Devices 702 as being beyond rock solid.

Im not up on current models or specs - maybe there is something new.

S
 
Patryk,

Assuming you don't want to splash out on an SD702 or similar, then, yes, a DR70D works well with a Mixpre, and certainly can use the XLR balanced line-outs. The photo here shows that set-up (OK with a Mixpre-D not original Mixpre), and how bag friendly it is (if you plan on using it in a bag, it works so much better than the DR60D or the handheld recorders suggested above).

Cheers,

Roland
Mixpre and DR70D.jpg
 
If you're one man banding this most of these suggestion seem to make the rig huge to handle. How about keeping the mix pre and feeding it a juiced link Lil darling. recorder Camera gets fed by Mix pre. Small lightweight and low noise.
 
I used to have a MixPre D that I sold (I regret getting rid of it, never should have sold it). I don't think anything touches it at the price point but the tricky part was finding the right recorder. I think the solution above pairing it with a DR70D is a great one. I recently got a DR701D and I've found it works decently for me without having to carry around too much gear. The quality is not the same as you'd get from the MixPre D but it's a good, small, portable unit and the monitoring, meters, etc. make it much easier to ride audio than through a camera.
 
Patryk,

Your gold standard would be a 702 or 744. With either one, for two tracks, you could skip the mixer. With the 744 and the MixPre, you could do 4 tracks. Until something changes in the industry, these SD devices are simply the best you can get for field recording. Buy it once and move on to something else. SD is the top of the upgrade path.

The DR680 can IMHO, do two tracks without a mixer. It is bag friendly and probably has better pre-amps than the smaller recorders. Power consumption sucks, so plan on remote power. Maybe the new smaller Tascams have equivalent pre-amps, but I'd check on this.
 
ggrantly said:
The DR680 can IMHO, do two tracks without a mixer. It is bag friendly and probably has better pre-amps than the smaller recorders.
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Yes the Tascam DR-680 is bag friendly and has better pre-amps than most budget recorders. It has six mic/line inputs/tracks, unbalanced direct outputs plus a stereo 'mix' track. It is one of the few recorders that does not attenuate a line input and route it back through the mic pre amp. The mkII has some additional enhancements. The DR-60, 70, 701 have 'better' preamps than the 'pocket' recorders, but not to the level of SD or Zaxcom.
 
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